Cut-out instrument for incandescent lamps



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I. P. LITTLE 8v W. H. MGDONALD.

GUT-OUT INSTRUMENT POR INCANDESGENT LAMPS.

No. 340,448. Patented Apr; 20, 1886.

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GUT-OUT INSTRUMENT POR INGANDESGENT m1541155. No. 340,448. Pagtented Apr. 2O, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Orifice@ FRANKLIN P. LITTLE AND VILLTAM H. MCDONALD, OF ALBANY, ASSGNORS TO JOSEPH A. POWERS, OF TROY, NEV YORK.

CUT-OUT INSTRUMENT FOR INCANDESCENT LAMPS.

Lit-:ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 340,448, dated April. 20, 1886Y Sexial No. ldlllt'v. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANKLIN P. LITTLE and XVILLIAM H. MoDoNALD, ot the city ot" Albany, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Cut-Ont Instruments for Incandescent Electric Lamps and other Articies7 ot' which the following is a speciiication.

In our improvement the cut-out is rendered automatic by the action of magnetism, and the said magnetism insures an intimate conta-ct of the metallic surfaces through which the current passes. Vhen the lamp is not in opera: tion, the current is shnnted or diverted from the same.

This improvement relates to an automatic magnetic switch and rheostat whereby a rev sistance equal to the electric lamp or similar article is placed into the circuit instead of a lamp, or the reverse.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the circuitvconnections and the mode ot' operation. Fig. 2is an elevation ofthe instrument, partially in section. Fig. 3 is a seetional plan ot' the rheostat. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the circ-uiteenncction and a modiiication of the double nmgnet. Fig. 5 is asection illustrating the manner of insulating the conductor ot` the rheostat.

L represents an incandescent electric lamp ot' any desired character, and S illustrates the switch ot` any ordinary character usually applied with such incandescent lamp for turning the current on or oft'.

R is a resistance or rheostat properly proportioned, as hereinafter described, so that when the lamp is turned out and this resistance brought into the ci rctit the total resiste ance will be about the same as the resistance ot' the incandescent lamp when in operation. \Ve malte use ot' a double magnet. A B, with an artnatnre, O, pivoted to the middle ot' the saine at D and there are helices E F around the respective cores A B. and ahelix, G, around thearmature-coreO. Thecircuitconnections are to be made substantially as represented in Fig` l. The wire of the line is connected to the core A or base at H, and the current passes through the core or base and pivot D and through the armature O to the connection I of the helix G, and thence through the helices G and E to the lamp L and to the -e line wire. It is remarked, however, that the lilieconnections might be the reverse ot' that shown, t-he wire being connected at H, instead ot' the -lwire. \Vhen the lamp is cut out, the current passes through the -lline-wire, connection H, and armaturecore O to a stop, a, and from thence through the helix F and re sistancc R to the-lineaire. The helices are wound in such adircction that the pole A and armature C are of differentpolarity and attract each other when the current is passing through theiamps; but it thelamp L is burned up or turned out the current ceases to pass through the helices EG. The pole Bis slightly magnetizcd by induction with the saine polarity on the armature O. The helix F is wound so as to prodncea strong pole at B otthe same polarity as the t'ree end ot the armature C, and there isa spring, b, that tends tio swing the armature into contact with the stop n, and otsuch strength that when the lamp is in circuit the repulsion ot' B and O and the attraction of A and Oinsure the movement ot' the armature and the breaking ot' the circuit through the stop a, helix F, and resistance R. Should thelamprircnit be broken, the coils in the lampcircuit cease to magnetize A and O, and the spring I) swings the armatu re instantly into Contact with the stop (t, and the current passing through the helix F magnetizes the pole B and insures intimacy oi' contact between the armature O and the stop a, and a good electric connection.

Having stated the general principles upon which our automatic cut-ont operates, we remark that we pret'cr to malte the cores A B in one piece in the form ot' a split ring, as shown in Figs. l and 4, and to hinge or pivot the armature core O directly upon the center ot'such split ring. and these parts are of soft iron, and preferably covered with a thin coatingot' copper, so as to increase the electric conductivity and insure a better metallic cone tact between the pivot-screw at D and the surface of the respective cores. Besides this, the copper prevents the su rt'accs adhering through magnetism should the armature-core come into contact with either pole A or B.

It will be apparent that the cores A B may be straight, as shown in Fig. 4, the armaturecore O being pivoted at D to the base or back bar uniting the cores A B. In this case the stop-screw a may pass through an insulatingblock in the pole of the core B. f

In constructing a rheostat or resistance to be employed with this automatic cut-out difficulty has been experienced in preventing injury to the insulation by the heat developed, and also in adapting the same to diierent lamps. XVe make use of frame K in the form of crosses,nnited together by the permanentlyriveted wires n, that pass from one cross to the other, and through holes in the same,the ends being riveted up. We prefer to use Germansilver wires for the coils of the rheostat, and we wind such coils around the range of wires a, first, however, applying to each wire n a strip of asbestus paper or othervireproof and electric insulator7 as shown 'at t, Fig. 5, the wires being at a slight distance apart and insulated by the asbest-us paper, which also is tire prooi', and is not injured by the heat de veloped in the rheostat. After the [rst layer of resistance-wire is wound around the range of wires a and secured we insert through holes in the crosses K the second set of wires, o, and applythe asbestos paper to the same, and then wind the second layer of resistaucewires around the same, and proceed until a rheost-at ofthe proper resistance is made up, and this is placed upon a central stem, P, that hangs downfrom the base Q. upon which the double magnet is attached. The circuit-connections are made substantially as shown in Fig.' l, and the conductors to the electric vlight may be flexible, so that the same hangs by such conductors, or they may be supported by a rigid electrolier. The case T that surrounds the rheostat is of perforated sheet metal, to allow the air to circulate in cooling the rheostat,and it is fastened by pins or screws upon the edges of the base Q,entering bayonet-slots in the case, so that the case can be removed easily to give access to the rheostat.

This improvement is available with any incandescent electric lamp or similar electric device, whether such devices are placed in multiple are, in series, in multiple series, in Series multiple, or in any ofthe known or desired arrangements ot' circuits in which such electric appliances are located.

Ve do not herein claim the combination of the crossframes K, having connecting-wires. with {ire-proof electric insulating material upon their surfaces and coils of wire wound around the ranges of counectingfwires forming the rheostat hereinbefore described, but reserve the right to make separate application for patent for the same.

Ve claim as our invention-.-

1.' The electric cut-out formed of the cores .A B and their helices, the pivoted armaturecore provided with a helix, G, in combina tion with circuit-connections, substantially magnet helices is connected, a spring to move the armature into contact with the said stop, and a resistance in the shunt-circuit passing through said stop, the incandescent lamp being connected in the circuit through the armature-helix, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electriccut-out, asplit-ring-shaped core to which one of the circuit-wires is con*- .nected, an armature pivoted tothe said core and swinging between the poles of the same, helices around the respective portions of the split-ring core, a helix around the armature, a stop for the armature to which one end of one of the magnet-helices is connected, a resistauce connected to the other end of said y helix, and a spring to swing the armature into contact with the stop, and the circuitconnections for including the incandescent lamp or similar device in the circuit of the armature-helix and one ofthe ring-magnet helices. substantially as set forth.

A5. The combination, with the double magnet formed of the cores A B, armature-core C. and helices around such cores, of the rheostat having coils of wire around metallic bars covered with tire-proof electric insulating material, the rheostat-wires being wound so as not to touch each other, substantially as set forth.

6. The base Q, in combination with the double magnet-cores A B C and their respective helices, the pendent support beneath the base, the cross-frames K, the ranges of connecting-wires n o, the tire-proof electric insulating material upon such connecting-wires, the coils of wire wound around such ranges of connecting wires, and the movable perforated case surrounding such wires and frames, substantially as set forth.

Signed by us this 2d day of November, A. D., 1885.

F. P. LITTLE. WM. H. MODONALD.

Witnesses:

J. A. POWERS, F. A. CHENEY.

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